Motion-picture screen



May 28, 1929. J. H. DREHER MOTION PICTURE SCREEN Filed June 7, 1927 ATTORIVEV Patented lid-say 28, 1929.

innate JULIUS H. nnnnnn, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOTION-PICTURE SCREEN.

Application filed June 7,

The present invention relates to improvementsin motion-picture screens,that is to say to flat surfaces upon which motion-pictures areprojected. The invention'is applicable to opaque screens and also totranslucent screens, and is particularly adapted for exhibiting motionpictures in daylight in classrooms, auditoriums and the like, althoughnot limited to that use.

The main object of the present invention is to combine with themotion-picture screen a shadow box, that is to say a device which willcast shadows or shade upon the surface of the screen by intercepting thenatural or artificial light in the exhibition room, and to so constructthe elements of the shadow box that they are adapted to be folded ontothe screen when the latter is to be transported or stored, therebyprotecting the screen from injury, etc. Another object of the inventionis to so construct the side wings of the shadow box that they areadjustable in relation to the screen according to the requirements, andto so design the top of the box that it automatically adapts itself tothe adjustment of the side wings thereof.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a simple and efficientmeans for holding the elements of the shadow box in set-up positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a screen of thetype mentioned, which is simple in construction, efiicient in operation,which is adapted to be easily set up and collapsed, and which is capableof manufacture on a commercial scale, or in other words one which is notso difficult to produce as to be beyond the reasonable cost of such acontrivance.

With these and other objects in view, which will more fully appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe combination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafterdescribed, 1

pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, it being understood that many changes may be made in the sizeand proportion of'the several parts and details of construction withinthe scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

1927. serial No. 197,070.

One of the many possible embodiments'of theinvention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of ascreen constructed in accordance with the present invention, theelements being in extended or set-up positions; Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe screen, all of its elements being located in a single plane toclearly show the construction thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan View of thescreen, someof its elements being shown in their folded positions; andFig. 4 is a side elevation of the screen completely folded.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a rectangular frame, on whichis mounted a motion-picture screen 11, which may be either 'opaque ortranslucent, as required. \Vhen opaque, the motion-pictures areprojected upon the screen from the front, and when. translucent from therear, in accordance with the usual practice. To each of the verticaledges of the frame 10 is hinged at 12 a rectangular opaque side wing 13,corresponding in size to that of the screen frame 10, although this isnot essential. For the purpose of permitting the side wings tobe foldedon the frame 10, and for proper co-operation of the said wings and frame10 with the top of the shadow box hereinafter to be described, it is,however, essential that the height of each wing should correspond tothat of the screen frame 10. To the top edge 14 of the frame 10 ishinged a strip 15, and to the latter is hinged at 16 the shadow box top17, the strip 15 and top 17 being also made of opaque material. To thetop edge 18 of each side wing 13 is hinged a substantially sector-shapedopaque top wing 19. The arc-shaped portion 20 of each wing 19 leads tothe free vertical edge 21 of the respective side wing 13, as

clearly shown in Figs. Qand "3 of the drawings. The frame 10 is providedadjacent its top edge with openings 22, for engagement with hooks ornails on the wall to which the screen is to be fastened.

On the top 17 is mounted a 23 for engagement with the wings 19 of thedevice, to hold the top elements of the shadow box in set-up positions.Any suitable means may be provided for this purpose. In the caseillustrated, a bar 24 is oscillatably mounted in any suitable manneradjacent to and along the free longitudinal edge 25 of fastening meansthe top 17, and this bar is provided with hooks 26, adapted to engagethe to wings 19. In Fig. 2 of the drawings the e ements of the screenareshown disposed in a single lane. If it is intended to fold thescreen,

' rst the top wings 19 are folded onto the side and finally the top 17is folded onto the wings 13 and 19, whereby the elements are brought.into the positions shown in Fig. 4: of the drawings, forming a compactunit which may be.

readily transported or stored away. When folded in the manner stated,obviously the screen 11 is protected against injury duringtransportation or storage.

In order to set up the device, the top 17 and strip 15 are firstextended into the plane of the screen frame 10. The side wings 13 arethen extended at the desired angles to the. said screen frame. The topwings 19 are then extended at right angles to the said side Wings andthe top 17 folded onto the top wings, after which the hooks 26. areengaged with the underfaces of the top wings, wherebythe elements are inthe positions shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, ready to receivepictures. It is obvious that each set of side and top wings may beadjusted independently of the other set, according to the requirements.They may be moved through an arc of 180, as clearly appears from theseveral figures of the drawings. When the device is properly set up, thewings and top protect the screen from natural or artificial light, sothat the device is adapted to be used in exhibiting pictures in broaddaylight. In .case the device has an opaque screen incorporated therein,it is constructed and used as above described. If it is provided,however, with a translucent screen, the screen may be rotected againstlight both from the front an from the rear. This necessitates doublingof all elements with the exception of the screen frame and screen. One

set of the shadow box elements isthen mounted upon the front of thescreen frame and the other set upon the rear thereof.

If necessar he side wings 13, top wings 19 and top 1 may be madeextensible. In

suchcase each of these elements is made of May, A. D. 1927.

two panels, one being adapted to slide into the other.

The device herein described is self-supporting and may be either hungupon a wall or it may be placed upon a support, depending upon whetherthe pictures are projected upon the screen from the front or from therear. If mounted on a Wall, the shadow-box, when folded, does not takeup any appreciable space. It is obvious that, while herein a screenframe 10 and a screen 11 has been speci fied, the screen may be paintedor otherwise provided upon a panel, which then performs the functions ofthe elements 10 and 11 above referred to. i

What I claim is 1. A motion-picture screen comprising a quadrangularscreen frame, a shadow box cooperating therewith and including sidewings hinged to the longitudinal edges of said screen frame adapted tobe folded in parallel relation to said screen frame and capable of beingextended independently of one another at an angle to said screen frame,a tophinged to the upper edge of said screen frame, a top wing hinged tothe upper edge of each wing,

said top wings being adapted to be folded onto said side wings andcapable of being extended at right angles to said screen frame, said topbeing adapted to be folded at right angles to said screen frame so as tooverlap said top wings when the latter are extended at right angles tosaid screen frame and also being capable of being folded on all of saidwings when the latter are in parallel relation to said screen frame, andmeans for holding said top wings and said top in operative andoverlapping positions when extended at right angles to said screenframe.

2. A motion-picture screen accordin to claim 1, comprising a striphinged to sai top andto the upper edge of saidscreen frame,said

- strip spacing said top from said screen frame when the elements ofsaid screen are in their folded positions. 1 3. In a motion-picturescreen'according to claim 1, said holding means being mounted upon saidtop.

Signed at New York, the county of New n York and State of New York, this25th day of JULIUS I-I. DREHERP

